Weekly update from Office of the Shoreline City Manager

Week of 11/25/2013

Council Meeting - Future Meetings

December 2

o   Dinner Meeting with 32nd District Representatives – Council will meet with Senator Maralyn Chase, Representative Ruth Kagi, and Representative Cindy Ryu to discuss Shoreline’s 2014 legislative priorities.

o   Discussion of Transition Area Amendments – This will be a discussion on the reconsideration of a portion of Ordinance No. 654 pertaining to building setbacks in all commercial zones in transition areas (SMC 20.50.021(a)) when across streets from R-4, R-6, and R-8 zones. The Planning Commission met September 23 and held a public hearing October 3 before making their unanimous recommendation to amend the code to require a 15–foot front setback for commercial development in transition areas. Staff is also providing an alternative for Council’s consideration that would allow for setback reductions when the right-of-way is greater than 60 feet.

o   Proposed Guiding Principles to Inform Metro Cuts – The purpose of this discussion is to provide direction to Councilmember Roberts on the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee (PIC) proposed guiding principles that were discussed at the PIC meeting on November 13 and will be considered for a vote at the PIC meeting on December 11. King County Metro service will be cut by 17% starting in June 2014 absent additional revenues.

Aurora Contract Award

On November 25, 2013 Council awarded the construction contract for the final phase of the Aurora Avenue North project to Gary Merlino Construction Company! The contract amount is $26.9 million. In order to make sure that there is adequate City budget to complete the project, Council waived the 1% for arts contribution for this project. Staff is hopeful that as the project nears completion we will find enough savings to reinstate the 1% art contribution. Construction will start in January 2014 and be complete at the end of 2015, weather permitting. This has been a project that was envisioned by the Shoreline community since it became a city in 1995. What a great 20 year anniversary present to our community to finish it up in 2015. Special kudos to City staff for the extra time spent the last few weeks evaluating bids with our funding partners to make the award possible!

Light Rail

On Thursday Sound Transit announced the preferred alternative that includes two stations in Shoreline – at 145th and 185th. The preferred alternative removed the potential station at 130th, although Sound Transit will study this location as a future option if additional funding is available. Visit Sound Transit.

Utilities Update

Ronald Wastewater District – George Webster is scheduled to be sworn-in as a District Commissioner on Tuesday, November 26, after the election has been certified. Since he was elected to take over the remaining term of appointed commissioner Richard Matthews, he can take his seat immediately upon certification. Gretchen Atkinson is scheduled to take her oath of office in the new year.

Point Wells

Snohomish County is planning to begin the environmental review process, or the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, for the Pt. Wells development. That Snohomish County process begins with a 30-day scoping period, including meetings to hear from affected parties on what should be analyzed in the environmental review – these meetings are known as scoping meetings. City staff have been in contact with both the developer, BSRE, and Snohomish County regarding the timing of the Environmental Impact Statement scoping process and meetings. Given that we are approaching the first of December, City staff has conveyed that we think it would be best for the Shoreline community to avoid having the 30-day scoping during the busy December holiday season. We have conveyed this preference to BSRE. Also we want adequate time to give residents a heads up about the timing and process. Even though the scoping process is a Snohomish County process, the City of Shoreline will hold a pre-scoping community meeting with residents to explain the process, provide them with a draft of the City’s scoping comments, provide an opportunity to partner with residents in submitting comments, and provide a preview of the Transportation Corridor Study process that would kick-off at the end of the EIS scoping period.

Special Legislative Session and Potential Transportation Package

It is still unclear if there will be a Special Session to consider a transportation package. Last week King County Executive Constantine announced that King County may pursue an alternative plan under the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) regulations to have voters approve up to a $100 vehicle fee and an increase in sales tax with the proceeds being used to restore proposed Metro cuts and to provide funding for both cities and the county. The City of Shoreline currently has a $20 TBD fee that provides funding for the City’s road surface preservation program. Any TBD fee charged by a City is credited against a County fee. The maximum combined fee currently allowed is $100.

Police Update

During the third quarter of this year the Criminal Investigative Unit had two high end burglary investigations that resulted in the arrests of five suspects. A total of 23 felony charges were filed against them.

The number of unforced entry burglaries (garages) and auto break-ins in unlocked cars in the Innis Arden and Richmond Beach neighborhoods has increased over the past several months. Shoreline Police have stepped up patrols, particularly during the hours of 1:00 and 5:00am, the hours when the majority of the break-ins have been occurring. Always remember to lock your garage and car doors, lock the door from your house to the garage, and don’t leave your garage door opener in your car if it is parked outside.

Employee of the Year Finalists

Each year, an employee committee accepts nominations for an Employee of the Year. The committee narrows the nominations to three finalists and then makes a recommendation to the City Manager regarding who should be the Employee of the Year. The Employee of the Year will be announced at the City’s All City Staff meeting on Wednesday, December 11. This year’s finalists are:

• Jay Clark, GIS Specialist, Administrative Services Department
• Hazel DelaCruz, Engineering Technician, Public Works Department
• Patti Rader, Finance Director, Administrative Services Department